pitch selection

[sl0annuggets]

what are your hitting coaches teaching you in regards to pitch selection. do you sit on something different for each pitch. is it more in regards to location. it seems when i watch games no matter who it is they take so many fastballs that look very hittable, is it more of a guessing game. i try and get something hard and up in the zone. tell me what the secrets are

[KCFAN11]

its all about reading the pitcher. Some pitchers have different arm motions for different pitches or they will do something before they throw a sertain pitch. Usually when you see a pitcher trying to find a grip on the ball in his glove he is getting ready to throw something of speed or a breaking ball.

The more you face the pitcher the better you will pick him up.

[sl0annuggets]

hiddengem tell me what they teach you

[BearsCoach13]

I think a lot has to do with patterns too. Depending on the number of times a hitter has faced a cetain pitcher, the hitter may be looking off speed in a certain count or situation. Familiarity comes into play, especially at the upper levels.

Another way to "guess" the pitch is based on the situation. For example, the three hole hitter is up. The pitch before that was just laced by the two hitter for a double. There are now runners on second and third. The pitch that was laced to the wall was a fast ball. The three hitter may be thinking...first base is open. They probably won't give me a fastball to hit...plus, the last hitter just laced a fastball. So, the three hitter may be thinking he's gonna see a breaking ball. If they don't get what they were looking for...they take it.

For some hitters, they can think through an at bat and be right most of the time. For other hitters it is too much thinking and they would rather read and react.

As for what I prefer when I'm playing...I'll take educated guesses until I have two strikes and then read and react.

[baseball=my life]

Sometimes the pitcher "tells" you what he is about to throw. The pitcher might look into his glove, turn his elbow etc. That is when you know when he is throwing junk. But that might be for some pitchers.